Reading list for 2021 (and further)

Reading list

For this year, I strive to read a book in about every two weeks, and write short, two-page reports on the readings to post on this website. It would probably not surprise you that the topics are primarily focused on economics and contemporary history, but I also want to add some old gems of previous studies for both my thesis and internships, and classics in the field of popular psychology and other non-fiction ‘blockbusters’.

The template is quite simple: The report starts with the text on the back of the book, I’ll then shortly provide context on the author and reasons this book was written, followed by a main part with all key ideas/topics that are presented in the book, finishing with a concluding opiniated review. This would give you, as the reader of the book report, a step-by-step view of the book, from objective to more subjective information. In any case, here is reading list below of all the books that are on my list to write on, in no particular order:

English books on economics:

• Dougnut Economics by Kate Raworth*

• Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Pikkety*

• Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu & James Robinson*

• Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith*

• The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes*

• Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman*

• Thinking, fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman*

• Mission Economy by Mariana Mazzucato

• The Value of Everything by Marian Mazzucato

• This Time is Different by Carmen Reinhart & Kenneth Rogoff

• Principles by Ray Dalio

• The Big Short by Michael Lewis

• The Wealth and Poverty of Nations by David S Landes

• The Worldly Philosophers by Robert Heilbroner

• Nudge by Cass Sunstein & Richard Thaler

• The Passions and the Interests by Albert Hirschman

• The Technology Trap by Carl Benedikt Frey

• Globalists by Quinn Slobodian

• Extreme Economies by Richard Davies

• The Code of Capital by Katharina Pistor

• Capitalism, Alone by Branko Milanovic

• Straight Talk on Trade by Dani Rodrik

• Having and Being Had by Eula Biss

• The Deficit Myth by Stephanie Kelton

English books on other non-fiction:

• Language and Power by Norman Fairclough*

• Political Discourse Analysis by Norman Fairclough & Isabela Fairclough*

• 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson*

• Antifragile by Nassim Taleb*

• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey*

• Social by Matthew D. Lieberman*

• The E-Myth by Michael Gerber*

• The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss*

• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie*

• War by Other Means by Robert Blackwill & Jennifer Harris*

• The Grand Chessboard by Zbigniew Brzezinski*

• The Tragedy of Great Power Politics by John J. Mearsheimer*

• Drunk Tank Pink by Adam Alter*

• Blood and Belonging by Michael Ignatieff*

• The Clash of Civilizations by Samual Huntington*

• On the Shortness of Life by Seneca*

• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius*

Nederlandse boeken:

• Miljonair met een gewone baan door Oeds-Jan Potsma*

• Met ons gaat het nog altijd goed door Peter Hein van Mulligen*

• Waarom vuilnismannen meer verdienen dan bankiers door Rutger Bregman & Jesse Frederik

• Een markt voor ons allemaal door Roelof Salomons, Maartje Schultz, & Ruben Oude Engberink

• Fantoomgroei door Sander Heijne & Hendrik Noten*

• De woorden en de dingen door Michel Foucault *

• De geboorte van de biopolitiek door Michel Foucault*

* = Already in my possesion

I’ll probably start the series with reports on books I already have, and see where I go from there. If you like the series or have any suggestions, do not hesitate to contact me through the contact form!

Jan